Oscar Allen Free Agency

[Grahame]

Normally watching all these AFL shows you hope for a little tidbit about the Eagles after they've gone through a Vic team's performance with a fine tooth comb. As soon as there's blood in the water we're primetime baby!

Apart from creating headlines, there’s also self interest in that by causing uproar it might bring Harley or Oscar to their club. Self interest is a powerful motivator.

And, let’s face the Vics just can’t stand us because we’re very successful and very wealthy. More so than most/all Vic clubs. By comparison Freo are treated either benignly or with indifference because they haven’t won flags.

 

[Tugga27]

What annoys me most about the media coverage of this is it all seems to be aimed at Oscar and how he's dogged the club. I've heard little about the ethic/moral behaviour of Mitchell in this circumstance from any media outlets. I feel like they're scared to call him out for essentially his half of the situation - if they want to call out Oscar then call out Mitchell too, stop being so weak.

Mitchell is getting built up even more over this.
Is being made out to be ruthless which of course is what he is.

TBH, I have no issues with what he's done.
It seems to be working.

It's the players who are talking to him are my issue.

 

[RookiePick]

Should we call every WCE supporter who posts on our board a tool and to go back to their own board or does it not work both ways?
Asking for a friend.

I'd imagine during 2013 if opposition posters came onto the Hawks board and made comment on the prospect of Buddy leaving, particularly to essentially say "lol, get over it", they would have had fairly short shrift.

What annoys me most about the media coverage of this is it all seems to be aimed at Oscar and how he's dogged the club. I've heard little about the ethic/moral behaviour of Mitchell in this circumstance from any media outlets. I feel like they're scared to call him out for essentially his half of the situation - if they want to call out Oscar then call out Mitchell too, stop being so weak.

Mitchell is an aggressive go getter, not afraid to ruffle feathers as he puts together HIS team, HIS way. How great is Sam Mitchell? I think he's quite possibly the GOAT.

 

[Tugga27]

To play devil's advocate a little. Everything I've heard from people who know Oscar speak of his strong character and integrity. I think this is more poor judgement than anything nefarious.

He's entitled to consider his options going forward. But to go about it this way, especially as captain, isn't really acceptable. Nor was his performance on the weekend, but he'll know that better than anyone else.

Ultimately it shines a light on the cultural issues the club is currently working to fix. If Oscar leaves, we'll be compensated. If Harley leaves, it'll hurt, but hey - we won the Judd trade in the long run, and that bloody hurt at the time too.

Let's build a side who wants to be here and will bleed for the jumper. If Allen isn't in that group, we'll be fine.

Nicely balanced as usual CC.

But the issue is, how on earth did it get to this?
Surely his manager must've set up the meeting.

Unless OA demanded the meeting, he should be sacking his manager.

 

[Grahame]

What annoys me most about the media coverage of this is it all seems to be aimed at Oscar and how he's dogged the club. I've heard little about the ethic/moral behaviour of Mitchell in this circumstance from any media outlets. I feel like they're scared to call him out for essentially his half of the situation - if they want to call out Oscar then call out Mitchell too, stop being so weak.

Yep the coach - who flies right across the country - to do what’s ‘best for his team’ is not criticised (and even praised). It was hardly travelling a few km for a quiet coffee and chat.

Yet the player who does what might be best for his future is slagged. (Whether that was wise is another question.)

But Sam and the Hawks are vAFL media darlings at present.

Edit: be interesting to see how the vAFL media treated Mitchell when he chats with stars from high profile Melbourne clubs. I think there’s a hypocrisy here.

 

[lloydbraun]

All Oscars are kents.

Pistorius
the Grouch
Allen

The Oscars

 

[Barrybran]

I almost feel like all the negative media attached to OA and HR may end up helping them re-sign.

Oscar would have to move to VIC permanently to avoid the shame of being a spineless joke of a captain if he were to bail out on his team during their darkest days.

In Harley's case, I tend to agree. He's copping it daily from Vic media. Why would he move closer to it? Oscar is a little different as the media will eventually leave him alone regardless of where he lands.

 

[Bender_]

Mitchell is getting built up even more over this.
Is being made out to be ruthless which of course is what he is.

TBH, I have no issues with what he's done.
It seems to be working.

It's the players who are talking to him are my issue.

I think they both look poor to be honest. I just don't like one being raked over the coals whilst the other is being built up to be some sort of mastermind.

I'm not as annoyed with Oscar as others, but I am disappointed. Mitchell annoyed me with his Barrass grooming already, then following it up with our captain (and most likely Harley too - let's be realistic) and now I think he's just a dick.

Would really like McQualter to make a comment at some point saying he doesnt like it or similar. My respect for him would grow a fair bit in that case.

Mitchell is an aggressive go getter, not afraid to ruffle feathers as he puts together HIS team, HIS way. How great is Sam Mitchell? I think he's quite possibly the GOAT.

It's a bit hypocritical. If anything I'd have more patience with Oscar's actions coz at least he's looking out for his own future whereas Mitchell is being a bit vulture like with his actions. And not cool Brooklyn 99 Vulture, carcass scavenging opportunitist vulture.

Call them both out you weak campaigners (media).

 

[Grahame]

Oscar would have to move to VIC permanently to avoid the shame of being a spineless joke of a captain if he were to bail out on his team during their darkest days.

Probably good we’ve got two away games - regardless of rights and wrongs it’d be terrible to see a club captain being booed. Hopefully things have settled down a bit - or been resolved - in that time.

 

[Spod]

I almost feel like all the negative media attached to OA and HR may end up helping them re-sign.

Oscar would have to move to VIC permanently to avoid the shame of being a spineless joke of a captain if he were to bail out on his team during their darkest days.

Unsure on Oscar but yeah I do feel like there may have been some galvanising factor out of the Harley stuff. No club has a stronger history of sticking it to the media and old VFL establishment than West Coast so it's probably a good place to be in that situation - it certainly seems like he has that sort of approach. The fact that the endless media on him has actually got a bit quieter on him leaving the club seems telling.

 

[Barrybran]

I thought the stretch of merciless floggings in 2023 that culminated in a 171-point loss to Sydney was our low point.

Last year a few rays of sunshine.

This is now our rock bottom.

No, it's not. Rock bottom is behind us but I suppose people love a good melt. Even if we get smashed without Gov over the next few weeks, we'll be in a better state than we were the last two years.

 

[FKASC]

No, it's not. Rock bottom is behind us but I suppose people love a good melt. Even if we get smashed without Gov over the next few weeks, we'll be in a better state than we were the last two years.

Exactly. We weren’t far off beating Brisbane in Brisbane if we just managed to not shit the bed in the second half.

Sliding Chris Dawes moment

 

[Barrybran]

All Oscars are kents.

Pistorius
the Grouch
Allen

That Piastri kid is alright

 

[BSD]

I think they both look poor to be honest. I just don't like one being raked over the coals whilst the other is being built up to be some sort of mastermind.

I'm not as annoyed with Oscar as others, but I am disappointed. Mitchell annoyed me with his Barrass grooming already, then following it up with our captain (and most likely Harley too - let's be realistic) and now I think he's just a dick.

Would really like McQualter to make a comment at some point saying he doesnt like it or similar. My respect for him would grow a fair bit in that case.



It's a bit hypocritical. If anything I'd have more patience with Oscar's actions coz at least he's looking out for his own future whereas Mitchell is being a bit vulture like with his actions. And not cool Brooklyn 99 Vulture, carcass scavenging opportunitist vulture.

Call them both out you weak campaigners (media).

If West Coast have got any dirt on Mitchell from his time at the Eagles they should leak it. Let's play dirty and rain on his parade.

 

[Dark Sharks]

Thing is, some people already wanted to push him out for a top 5 FA compo pick when Brisbane or some other teams were supposedly interested.
Perhaps he could have handled it more discreetly, but the outcome will be the same.

Yeah nah dawg. Not the same thing.

I think most of us have been keen on Allen bailing in the offseason as a RFA and the compo we'd get, absolutely.

But that's a far cry from this total shamozzle going on 3 Rounds into the season playing out in front of the entire AFL community. What message does it project? Captain bailing and meeting with other clubs publicly. No shame whatsoever. Imagine being the big dope fronting up to training with the boiz after. What message does it send to Reid? He's lacking leadership enough as it is and now his captain is openly trying to bail in front of him. What a joke.

End result of FA compo might be what we all wanted, but the collateral damage this is causing along the way is a bit of a disaster. The knock on effect of this shit show is going to be felt a bit IMO.

 

[frenchconnection]

Oscar should be on the front foot explaining, as the captain of the club, why he's meeting with an opposition coach.
Do it through your manager or in private over zoom, seems a pretty poor look to do it in public particularly after the TB stuff

After all of this only shows Oscar’s apparent lack of character - as a captain of a club just doesn’t do this! Can you imagine Woosha doing this kind of thing when he was captain - a captain of a club is expected to be loyal and if they can’t for whatever reason then they should hand in their captaincy!

 

[Bender_]

Edit: be interesting to see how the vAFL media treated Mitchell when he chats with stars from high profile Melbourne clubs. I think there’s a hypocrisy here.

We'd likely never know about it simply coz it could happen on a Tuesday arvo after training and they'd be none the wiser. A flight over to WA so Mrs Mitchell can put her hand on Oscar's leg and promise some home cooking if he comes to Hawthorn so hard to hide.

 

[ThePuma #9]

Ahh, so your issue is not with OA meeting with Sam and Co, it's just the fact that it was reported in the media? Players are fine and free to meet with anyone they want, it's just when it hits the papers that its a problem? Is that correct?

Also, there is a horribly outdated and offensive slur in your post. Please reflect on that, and be better.

My problem is with the fact that a Captain of a football club is meeting with a rival football club during a season where they are Captain and that becomes news and a distraction that can derail a football club.

I can see that you have no idea what you are talking about, cannot provide any such facts to back your claims and further to that fail to see the issue at hand.

Under different circumstances I’d task you to find one example of any other captain in the history of the AFL being reported to have met with an opposition club whilst still Captain and during a season but then I’d have to talk to you more and honestly it’s been tiring enough as it is already.

 

[Grumpyshades]

You have a short memory, this was happening to Hawthorn in 2012 with Buddy Franklin.

At least today it is a known land scape with F/A.

The Hawks sucked it up and got on with winning a 3peat!

gifted a 3 peat more like
pretty sure Buddy wanted out because of all the red neck racists at horethorn

 

[Astro7]

What annoys me most about the media coverage of this is it all seems to be aimed at Oscar and how he's dogged the club. I've heard little about the ethic/moral behaviour of Mitchell in this circumstance from any media outlets. I feel like they're scared to call him out for essentially his half of the situation - if they want to call out Oscar then call out Mitchell too, stop being so weak.

Hodge called him a genius or something to that effect. (reaching demi-god status)
There's a bit of a pile on now with the Eagles as a club, and Mini as a coach.

 

[frenchconnection]

What a fall from grace for oscar...

All I can say is Oscar is obviously not very bright as what a dumb move as there are ways of doing things and there are ways of not and particularly being captain of a club lol!

 

[ThePuma #9]

Should we call every WCE supporter who posts on our board a tool and to go back to their own board or does it not work both ways?
Asking for a friend.

The issue is not coming onto our board. The respectful thing to do would have been to ask why we feel aggrieved and have a constructive conversation about it instead of what said poster did by saying and I’m paraphrasing here

“Oh we lost Buddy and he’s much better than Oscar and we got on with it so harden up”

The two scenarios are not similar. One is the face of our football club and supposed to be representing us through a dark period and the other was a star player who had no extra responsibilities at the football club. Oscar has every right to assess his options but could be making a zoom call and keeping it confidential, not having it possibly plastered all over the media and bringing the clubs culture and leadership into question.

Engage with respect and it will be reciprocated.

 

[Bacchus]

No wonder he put in such an insipid performance on Sunday. He had the meeting with Mitchell on his mind.

In fact, he has been looking limp and disinterested the whole pre season. To have a leader who is about to walk out the door is just intolerable. With this going on no wonder there is so little heart in our games.

He should be removed/ resign from the captaincy immediately and probably dropped to the WAFL.
The difficulty there is we need to keep up his trade value so we get something back for the long investment in him. We haven’t got it in his playing career.
There must be some hard headed business decisions as well as passion.

What a sad end to someone who grew up supporting the club.

 

[Bender_]

He should be removed/ resign from the captaincy immediately and probably dropped to the WAFL.
The difficulty there is we need to keep up his trade value so we get something back for the long investment in him. We haven’t got it in his playing career.

He'd only leave for a bigger/longer contract than what we're offering and in that case we'd be compensated with a high band pick so we don't need to worry too much about that.

 

[Tugga27]

I think they both look poor to be honest. I just don't like one being raked over the coals whilst the other is being built up to be some sort of mastermind.

I'm not as annoyed with Oscar as others, but I am disappointed. Mitchell annoyed me with his Barrass grooming already, then following it up with our captain (and most likely Harley too - let's be realistic) and now I think he's just a dick.

Would really like McQualter to make a comment at some point saying he doesnt like it or similar. My respect for him would grow a fair bit in that case.



It's a bit hypocritical. If anything I'd have more patience with Oscar's actions coz at least he's looking out for his own future whereas Mitchell is being a bit vulture like with his actions. And not cool Brooklyn 99 Vulture, carcass scavenging opportunitist vulture.

Call them both out you weak campaigners (media).

Unfortunately, Mini is still on his L plates.

I imagine Ross Lyon, Clarkson and Co would've mentioned it by now.